Activist Booker Ngesa Omole found himself at the center of a tense confrontation when he shot and injured an intruder at his Syokimau home in Machakos County on Saturday night. The well-known human rights advocate was asleep when he heard a commotion inside his house. Upon investigating, he discovered that eight men had broken into his home, with some positioned outside while others had reportedly taken a female relative hostage.
As a licensed gun holder, Booker swiftly retrieved his pistol and fired twice at the intruders. He claimed to have hit one of them, which caused the gang to flee the scene, abandoning their mission. Police later confirmed that the gang had entered through a window they had broken, and bloodstains were found at the scene, indicating one of the suspects was injured during the altercation.
Authorities are investigating the incident as a case of burglary and attempted robbery, though the exact intentions of the intruders remain unclear. A red muffin believed to belong to one of the intruders was recovered, along with two spent 9mm cartridges.
Booker has since expressed concerns for his safety, believing the attack could be linked to his activism. Just hours before the break-in, Booker had participated in a discussion on X (formerly Twitter) about the rising number of abductions in the country. He revealed that he had received threatening phone calls and warnings from various sources, urging him to cease his work in human rights and governance advocacy.
“I do not know what they wanted. They could have been out to harm me over my work,” Booker said, stressing that the incident had intensified his fears for his life. His vocal stance on government accountability and human rights issues has made him a target for those who disagree with his views.
Police have taken Booker’s firearm for further examination as part of their investigation, and Machakos Police Commander Patrick Lobolia confirmed that a probe into the attempted robbery is ongoing. Booker’s actions in defending himself highlight the growing risks faced by activists who speak out against injustice in Kenya.
